Mobility specification

Country:Canada

Institution:Thompson Rivers University

City:Kamloops

Program:ISEP Exchange

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?no

Does the university offer enough courses in English?they have tons

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?I had my courses that were worth 3 credits accepted for 8 credits there because the studying was more time consuming.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Definitely the fact that we did projects every week, we had to be prepared for every lesson, especially prepared for discussions, and we had to remember every detail from the books we read (fiction) in order to be able to participate in the discussions. Also the classes were either twice a week, 75 minutes or once a week and lasted almost three hours.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, both orientation week and all sorts of university and student events where we could get free merch or food. But the best part of the stay was the LEAP program, which was funded by the university and through which we could go on trips, ski, go to the theater, pretty much anything for little money - for example, skiing with equipment rental and a beginner's lesson came out to 600 CZK, etc. Thanks to LEAP I could really enjoy my stay to the fullest.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:7000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?I lived in a homestay, so I can't estimate exactly how much I actually spent each month. I don't know if I would recommend staying in a homestay though, it saves a lot, but I had a pretty negative experience.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Download the Too Good To Go app, a lot of it's going on in Vancouver, Toronto. Don't be afraid to go stay in shared apartments when you travel. I've been that way in Vancouver and Toronto too and no one bothered me - on the contrary, I hardly saw anyone. Of course, it's also a good idea to plan your flights, or ask around if it's better to arrive after orientation day - I went sometime on the 6th, arrived on the 7th, and orientation started on the 8th, and it was manageable. Also, through the university you have a student pass that gets you discounts to museums, galleries, and even restraurants, just ask around.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?terrible

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I received my ticket in Kamloops from the university, otherwise you buy it on the bus with cash and one ride cost $2.50 I think. Otherwise, connections are fine to find on Google, but it's better to drive everywhere than take the bus, the trips can be about three times shorter by car.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?BC Wildlife Park, Mount Dufferin, theatre

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Banff (but not until May)

Share your best experience:My best experience was seeing a grizzly bear in the Wildlife Park. I wanted to see a bear in the wild, but honestly this way was less stressful for both parties and safer for me. I also really enjoyed going snowshoeing and tubing in the winter.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane
Bus
Car

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Just make sure you get everything in time - ETA, insurance, pay the fees. If you want to homestay, watch out for deadlines because they're pretty early and I almost missed them.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Winter clothes, but I would recommend leaving the thick scarves at home and rather buy a balaclava and or a multifunctional scarf. If you're going to homestay, it's nice to bring some gifts from the Czech Republic.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?It was a great experience for me, I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity at all.